Vertically adjustable mount for outboard motors



May 19, 1953 LE 'RoY A. KIEBLER ET L VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE MOUNT FOROUTBOARD MOTORS Filed Au 21, 1951 2 sheets-sheet 1 Patented May 19, 1953OFFICE VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE MOUNT FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Le Roy A.Kiebler, De Witt, and Donovan D. Aldrich and Dale W. Weller, Lansing,Mich.

Application August 21, 1951, Serial No. 242,896

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to mounting structures for outboard motors andmore particularly to a vertically adjustable mounting structure forraising and lowering an outboard motor relative to a boat on which themotor is carried and for supporting the motor at selected positions ofelevation relative to an associated boat.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved mountingstructure for an outboard motor which structure can be manually operatedor power operated under manual control to raise or lower the motorrelative to a boat carrying the motor, so that the motor can be raisedfor operation in shallow water or to pass over weed beds and otherobstructions and lowered for eflic'ient operation in open water ofsufiicient depth; which can be connected to an existing motor and motorbracket with no material modification of the motor or bracketconstruction; which firmly supports'the motor for operation at selectedpositions of elevation relative to an associated boat;

and which is simple and durable in construction,

thereof Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view I of the supportstructure and adjacent portion of the motor with parts broken away andshown in cross section to better illustrate the construction thereof;

Figure 4 is a transverse cross sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure1;

Figure 5 is a transverse cross sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure2;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a modified form of motor mountingstructure with associated parts of the motor and motor mounting bracket;

Figure 7 is a rear elevational view of the modified form of supportingstructure illustrated in Figure 6 with parts broken way and. shown incross sectionto better illustrate the construction thereof; and

Figure 8 is a transverse cross sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure7,

With continued reference to the drawings, the numeral I0 generallyindicates an outboard motor mounting bracket of known constructionhaving a fiat face or pad H adapted to bear against the outer surface ofa boat transom l2, a lug structure l3 spaced from and opposed to theface II to receive the upper portion of the boat transom between the lugstructure and the face or pad and clamp screws l4 and I5 threadedthrough spaced apart, tapped holes in the lug structure and opposed tothe pad of the bracket to bear against the inner surface of the boattransom and clamp the boat transom against the face or pad of thebracket. Between the lugs and the pad the bracket is provided with anabutment surface l6 which rests upon the upper edge of the transom tosupport the weight of the motor and is provided near its upper frontcorner with bearing openings, as indicated at IT, to receive a pivotbolt It for pivotally connecting the motor to the bracket. The bracketis also provided with series of spaced apart apertures l9 extendingalong the pad thereof to receive a fastening element for supporting themotor in selected positions of inclination relative to the bracket.

The outboard motor, generally indicated at 20, has an engine 2| and astem 22 depending from the engine and carrying a propeller, notillustrated, at its lower end, a vertical shaft extending through thestem from the engine to the propeller shaft.

The motor is ordinarily pivotally mounted directly on the bracket [0 forswinging movements about a substantially horizontal axis, so that themotor can be set at selected positions of inclination relative to thebracket, and means are also provided to give the motor freedom ofsteering movement about a substantially vertical axis.

In the arrangement illustrated, the motor stem 22 is provided withforwardly projecting lugs or cars 24 and 25, one of which is disposed atthe lower side of the engine 2 I, and the other of which is spaced fromthe upper lug 24 along the stem in a direction from the engine. Theseears are apertured to receive a pivot bolt 26 which extends through thelugs and through an element pivotally secured to the bracket I 0 by thepivot bolt Hi to provide a hinge connection between the motor and thebracket, so that the motor can be turned about a generally vertical axisby the steering handle 21 projecting forwardly from the engine 2|, tosteer the boat on which the motor is mounted. Various other means, wellknown to the art, are used to provide a generally vertical pivotalconnection between the motor and the motor mounting bracket.

When the motor is mounted directly on the mounting bracket in the usualmanner, the propeller, carried at the bottom of the motor stem 22,cannot be raised sufliciently for operation of the motor in very shallowwater and to pass over submerged obstructions, such as weed and grassbeds, submerged logs and stones. The present invention contemplates theinterposition of manually operated or manually controlled means betweenthe mounting bracket and the motor for elevating the motor sufiicientlyto bring the propeller adjacent the bottom of the boat, so that themotor can operate in water of a depth only sufiicient to float the boatand can be operated over submerged obstructions, such as those indicatedabove.

The motor elevating mechanism is generally indicated at 30 and, in theform illustrated in Figures 1 to inclusive, includes a fiat support bar3|, base receptacles 32 and 33 secured to one end of the supporting bar,one at each side thereof and projecting perpendicularly from the bar atthe lower end of the latter when the structure is operatively mounted onthe bracket It, as illustrated in Figure l. A pair of arms 34 and 35 arejoined, each at one end, to the end of the bar 3| remote from thereceptacles 32 and 33, one at each side of the bar and extend from thebar in a direction opposite that in which the receptacles extend fromthe bar. These arms are provided near their ends remote from the barwith aligned apertures which receive the pivot bolt I8 to pivotallyconnect the auxiliary bracket structure including the bar 3|, the basereceptacles 32 and 33, and the arms 34 and 35 to the motor mountingbracket l0.

Hollow cylindrical plunger guides 'or tubes 36 and 31 have their lowerends threaded into internally screw threaded recesses in the upper sidesof the base receptacles 32 and 33, respectively, and extend upwardlyfrom these base receptacles along the bar 3| in spaced apart andsubstantially parallel relationship to each other. Apertured ears 38 and39 extend laterally from the bar 3 I, one at each side of the bar, andreceive the upper ends of the guide tubes 36 and 31 to rigidly securethese tubes to the support bar 3|.

Cylindrical plungers 40 and 4| are slidably received in the guide tubes36 and 31 respectively, and project from the upper ends of these guidetubes. At their upper ends the plungers 40 and 4| are threaded intoscrew threaded recesses in the lower side of a yoke 42 which spans thedistance between the plungers and rigidly interconnects the plungers attheir upper ends.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive,the plungers 40 and 4| are hollow cylinders and pistons, as indicated at43 in Figure 2, are slidably disposed, one in each of the cylinders 40and 4|. These pistons are held in position adjacent the upper ends ofthe corresponding guide tubes 36 and 31 by rods, as indicated at 44,which extend from the pistons downwardly of the guide tubes and throughapertures provided in the base receptacles 32 and 33, these rods beingrigidly secured to the base receptacles by clamp nuts, as indicated at45 and 46 for the rod 44, threaded onto the screw threaded lower ends ofthe rods and disposed one at each side of the corresponding receptacle.The lower nut for the rod in the guide tube 36 is indicated at 41.

A tongue 48 of elongated, rectangular cross sectional shape, dependsfrom the yoke 42 between the guide tubes 36 and 31 and a pair of plates49 and 50 are secured to this tongue near the end thereof remote fromthe yoke 42, one at each side of the tongue and partly surround theguide tubes 36 and 31 to provide a guideway for the lower end of thetongue. A projection 5| extends rearwardly from the upper portion of thetongue and has a length equal to the distance between the ears 24 and 25on the motor stem. This projection is received between the ears 24 and25 and is provided with a longitudinally extending bore 52 whichreceives the pivot bolt 26 to pivotally connectthe motor stem to thetongue 48.

The tongue is provided with a second bore 53 extending longitudinallytherethrough and spaced from the bore 52 and an inlet tube 54 isconnected at one end to the lower end of the tongue in communicationwith the bore 53 and depends from the tongue to a location adjacent thebottom end of the motor stem 22, this tube being connected near itslower end to the stem by a hoop 55 which surrounds the tube and thestem. A check valve 56 is disposed in the lower end of the tube 54 andis effective to admit water into the tube while precluding passage ofwater out of the tube at the lower end of the latter.

A pump cylinder 51 is formed on the yoke 42 and projects forwardly fromthe yoke substantially at the mid-width location of the latter and apump piston 58 is slidably mounted in the pump cylinder and connected toone end of a pump rod 59 which extends through a packing gland 60threaded into the outer end of the pump cylinder and carries a hand knob6| on its outer end.

The yoke 42 is provided with a longitudinal bore 62 which communicatesat its opposite ends with the interiors of the cylinders 40 and 4| andcommunicates at its mid-length location with the bore 53 and with theinterior of the pump cylinder 51 through a passage 63. A check valveincluding a valve ball 64 and a spring 65 is mounted in the yoke withthe ball 64 engaging a valve seat at the intersection of the passage 63with the bore 62 in the yoke.

With this arrangement, when the hand knob 6| is pulled outwardly, waterwill be drawn from the body of water in which the lower end of the motorstem is submerged through the tube 54, the bore 53 and the passage 63into the interior of the pump cylinder 51. When the hand knob 6| is thenforced inwardly, the water in the pump cylinder will be forced past thecheck valve ball 64 into the bore 62 in the yoke, passage of this wateroutwardly through the tube 54 being precluded by the check valve 56 andfrom the bore 62 in the yoke into the upper ends of the cylinders 40 and4| where it will react against the pistons in these cylinders and,filling the space betweenthe pistons and the yoke, will force thepistons upwardly relative to the guide tubes 36 and 31, raising themotor 20.

The bore 62 is extended to one end of the'yoke and a manually controlledrelief valve 66 is threaded into this end of the bore 62. When it isdesired to lower the motor, the relief valve 66 is opened to allow thewater to flow from the spaces in the cylinders 4|] and 4| between thepistons and the yoke 42, thus permitting the tongue 48 and the motorcarried thereby to settle or descend relative to the guide tubes 36 and31.

Suitable means, such as pins, are connected to the guide tubes 36 and 31and are engageable in selected apertures H! in the motor bracket ID tosecure the support structure 30 and the motor 20 at desired angles ofinclination relative to the boat.

Where the motor isprovided with a pressure pump for forcing coolingwater past the engine cylinders, the outlet of this pump may beconnected by a suitable tube to the bore 62 in the yoke 42 through amanually operated two-way valve which may be substituted for the pumpdescribed above, so that the power of the outboard motor can be used toraise the motor.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8, thestructure is the same as that illustrated and described above, exceptthat the plungers l0 and "H in the modified form of the invention,instead of being hollow cylinders, as are the cylindrical plungers '40and 4!,

of the above described form of the invention, are cylindrical elements,each of which has rack teeth 12 extending along the front side thereofand a pinion member 13 is rotatably mounted in bearings 14 and 15received in a cylindrical housing 16 mounted at its ends in theauxiliary bracket arms 34 and 35. This pinion member has gear formationsll and'lB thereon which respectively mesh with the rack teeth 12 on thecylindrical plungers 10 and H.

The pinion element 13 is provided at one end with an extension 19 ofreduced diameter which extension is provided near its outer end with atransverse aperture. slidably received in the transverse aperture in theextension 19 and is provided with enlarged ends 8| and 82 which retainit in operative assembly with the extension 80. This handle is used tomanually rotate the pinion element 13 to move the cylindrical elementsor plungers 10 and H longitudinally of the guide tubes 36 and 3! andthereby raise and lower the motor 2|].

Near one end the pinion element 13 is provided with an annular series ofratchet teeth 83 and a paw184 is slidably received in an apertureprovided in the housing 16 and has one end engaging the ratchet teeth 83on the pinion element. A flat spring 85 mounted on the arm 34 has oneend in engagement with the pawl 84 and resiliently urges the pawl intoengagement with the ratchet teeth 83, the arrangement being such thatthe pawl will hold the pinion element against reverse rotation when thepinion element is manuall rotated in a direction to raise the motor. Ahead or hand knob 86 is provided on the end of the pawl 84 remote fromthe pinion element and when it is desired to lower the motor, this knobis manually rasped and the pawl pulled away from the ratchet teeth tofree the pinion element to rotate in a reverse direction, so that themotor will descend relative to the mounting bracket.

The invention may be provided in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embracedtherein.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with an outboard motor and a motor supporting bracket,a longitudinally adjustable motor mount interposed between said bracketand said motor for raising and lowering the motor when the bracket isoperativel mount- A crank or handle 60 is ed on a boat comprising anauxiliary bracket structure pivotally connected at one end to saidbracket for movement about an axis extending transversely of saidbracket and overlapping the latter, a pair of guide tubes secured tosaid auxiliary bracket structure and extending from the other end of thelatter longitudinally thereof in spaced apart and substantially parallelrelationship to each other, cylindrical plungers slidably mounted one ineach of said guide tubes and projecting from the ends of the latterremote from said other end of the auxiliary bracket structure, a yokemounted on said cylindrical plungers at the ends of the latterprojecting out of said guide tubes, a tongue depending from said yoke,means guiding said tongue relative to said auxiliary bracket structurefor longitudinal movement of the former relative to the latter, meanscarried by said tongue and pivotally connecting said motor to saidtongue for movement about an axis extending longitudinally of thelatter, and manually operated means connected between said aux iliarybracket structure and said plungers for imparting substantially verticalmovements to said yoke and said tongue relative to said auxiliarybracket structure.

2. In combination with an outboard motor and a motor supporting bracket,a longitudinally adjustable motor mount interposed between said bracketand said motor for raising and lowering the motor when the bracket isoperatively mounted on a boat comprising an auxiliary bracket structurepivotally connected at one end to said bracket for movement about anaxis extending transversely of said bracket and overlapping saidbracket, a pair of guide tubes secured to said auxiliary bracketstructure and extending from the other end toward said one end of thelatter in spaced apart and substantially parallel relationship to eachother, cylindrical plungers slidably mounted one in each of said guidetubes and projecting from the: ends of the latter remote from said otherend of the auxiliary bracket structure, a yoke mounted on saidcylindrical plungers at the ends of the latter projecting out of saidguide tubes, a tongue depending from said yoke,- means guiding saidtongue relative to said auxiliary bracket structure for longitudinalmovement of the former relative to the latter, means carried by saidtongue and pivotally connected to said motor for movement of said motorrelative to said tongue about an axis extending longitudinally of saidauxiliary bracket structure, each of said cylindrical plungersconstituting a hollow cylinder, pistons slidably mounted one in eachcylinder, means in said guide tubes supporting said pistons from theends of said guide tubes remote from said yoke, a hand pump mounted onsaid yoke, said yoke having fluid passages therein connecting said pumpwith the spaces within said cylinders betweensaid pistons and said yokeand said tongue having a fluid passage therein connecting the fluidpassages in said yoke with the end of said tongue remote from said yoke,check valves in said fluid passages constraining the flow of fluid fromthe end of said tongue remote from said yoke to said pump and from saidpump into said cylinders, and a manually operated relief valve connectedto one of said fluid passages for venting fluid from said cylinders.

3. In combination with an outboard motor and a motor supporting bracket,a longitudinally adjustable motor mount interposed between said bracketand said motor for raising and lowering the motor when the bracket isoperatively mounted on a boat comprising an auxiliary bracket structurepivotally connected at one end to said bracket for movement about anaxis extending transversely of said bracket and overlapping the bracket,a pair of guide tubes secured to said auxiliary bracket structure andextending from the other end toward said one end of the latter in spacedapart and substantially parallel relationship to each other, cylindricalplungers slidably mounted one in each of said guide tubes and projectingfrom the ends of the latter remote from said other end of the auxiliarybracket structure, a yoke mounted on said cylindrical plungers at theends of the latter projecting out of said guide tubes, a tongueextending from said yoke between said guide tubes, means guiding saidtongue relative to said auxiliary bracket structure for longitudinalmovement of the former relative to the latter, means carried by saidtongue and pivotally connected to said motor for movement of said motorrelative to said tongue about an axis extending longitudinally of saidauxiliary bracket structure, each of said cylindrical plungersconstituting a hollow cylinder, pistons slidably mounted one in eachcylinder, means in said guide tubes supporting said pistons from theends of said guide tubes remote from said yoke,

and manually controlled hydraulic means connected with the spaces insaid cylinders between said pistons and said yoke for imparting movementto said tongue longitudinally of said auxiliary bracket structure.

4. In combination with an outboard motor and a motor supporting bracket,a longitudinally adjustable motor mount interposed between said bracketand said motor for raising and lowering the motor when the bracket isoperatively mounted on a boat comprising an auxiliary bracket structurepivotally connected at one end to said bracket for movement about anaxis extending transversely of said bracket and overlapping saidbracket, a pair of guide tubes secured to said auxiliary bracketstructure and extending from the other end of the latter toward said oneend thereof in spaced apart and substantially parallel relationship toeach other, cylindrical plungers slidably mounted one in each of saidguide tubes and projecting from the ends of the latter remote from saidother end of the auxiliary bracket structure, a yoke mounted on saidcylindrical plungers at the ends of the latter projecting out of saidguide tubes, a tongue extending from said yoke between said guide tubes,means guiding said tongue relative to said auxiliary bracket structurefor longitudinal movement of the former relative to the latter, meanscarried by said tongue and pivotally connected to said motor formovement of said motor relative to said tongue about an axis extendinglongitudinally of said auxiliary bracket structure, each of saidcylindrical plungers having rack teeth along one side thereof, a pinionelement mounted in said auxiliary bracket structure for rotation aboutan axis extending transversely of the latter and meshing with the rackteeth on said plungers, means connected to said pim'on element formanually imparting rotational movement to the latter to move said tonguelongitudinally of said auxiliary bracket structure, and means carried bysaid auxiliary bracket structure and releasably engaging said pinionelement to hold said tongue in selected positions of longitudinaladjustment relative to said auxiliary bracket structure.

LE ROY A. KIEBLER. DONOVAN D. ALDRICH. DALE W. HELLER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,135,907 Miller Nov. 8, 1938 2,302,795 Noble Nov. 24, 19422,508,240 Fenn May 16, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 309,789Italy July 17, 1933 631,036 France Sept. 3, 1927

